For the past two years, Southwestern Community College has hosted the Hometown Heroes
career event honoring and inspiring the individuals who protect our communities every day.
The event connects students and residents with opportunities to learn more about – and even pursue –
these vital professions. Hometown Heroes serves as both a career fair and a job fair.
Time/Location: The region’s hometown heroes are returning for another year from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on April 16 in the
Balsam Center Parking lot at SCC’s Jackson Campus.
Agency organizers and recruiters continue to expand the event each year. In addition to fire trucks,
patrol boats, police vehicles and helicopters, the Secret Service will be at the career fair for the first
time featuring the agency’s secret service limousine—used for specialized defense and security of high-
level government officials.
Hometown Heroes is an event that helps explore and honor the esteemed professions that protect
citizens each and every day. SCC students and community members will have the chance to explore
opportunities both within Western North Carolina and beyond. Whether rain or shine, representatives
from all branches of the U.S. military, along with law enforcement, firefighters, emergency responders
and secret service agents, will be on-site displaying the tools and vehicles they use daily.
When reflecting on past events, Mike Despeaux, SCC’s Director of Career Services and Hometown
Heroes coordinator, recalled a standout moment from last year when Smoky Mountain High School’s
junior ROTC marched in formation in front of a crowd of more than 500 attendees.
“It had to have been a rare opportunity to show what they could do. It was visually inspiring to
everyone at the event,” Despeaux said.
The junior ROTC will return this year participating in the same formation. For more information,
contact Despeaux at [email protected] or 828.339.4212.
